Of same place



(No Modl.)

W., H. JOHNSTON' APPARATUS FOR FEEDING GABLES INTO UNDERGROUND GONDUITS.

Patented Nov. 23, 1897.

. 17 W? Z5102 470M757? d dd Nrrnn STATES PATn'r .rrrcs.

I/VILLBUR II. JOHNSTON, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGN OR TO THE BELLTELEPHONE COMPANY OF MISSOURI, OF SAME PLACE.

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING CABLES INTO UNDERGROUND CONDUITS SPECIFICATIONforming part of Letters Patent No. 594,020, dated November 23, 1897.Application filed July 28, 1897. Serial No. 646,211. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLBUR H. JOHNSTON, a citizen of the United States,residing at St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented a certain newand useful Improvement in Apparatus for Feeding Cables into UndergroundGonduits, (Case No. 3,) of which the following is a full, clear,concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to apparatus for feeding cables into undergroundconduits. Prior to my invention the cable as it was paid out had to becarefully manipulated by the work man to direct it into the conduit. Thecable as it. was unreeled was frequently rubbed against the edges of themouth of the conduit, manhole-cover, and other sharp edges, the metalliccovering usually employed being thereby often injured.

In accordance with my invention I provide a tubular guide, preferably soarranged or constructed that it can be bent only into curves ofcomparatively large radius, means being provided for attaching thetubular guide at one end to the duct of the conduit through which thecable is to be threaded and for securing the same at the manholeopening, whereby the cable may be drawn through the guide without beingmanipulated as it is uncoiled from the reel, while at the same time allinjury to the covering of the cable is obviated.

I willexplain my invention more particularly by reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional viewof a manhole and a portion of a conduit communicating therewith with theapparatus of my invention in position, a cable-reel being illustrated incomplete elevation. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the frame about the upperportion of the manhole-opening, showing the means I prefer to employ forsecuring the tubular guide in position.

Like letters refer to like parts in both views. The cable-reel a andstandard a therefor are of any wellknown construction; The manhole b isprovided with an opening 2;, leading to the surface. A frame a surroundsthe upper portion of the manhole and is designed to support a cover, asis well understood. Ducts d d of the conduit communicate with themanhole.

A tube 6, composed of flexible material having a bore slightly largerthan the diameter of the cable, is provided. This tube is preferablyconstructed so that it will flex or bend only into curves ofcomparativelylarge radius to prevent the cable from becoming kinked. Toafford communication between the guide 6 and the duct through which thecable is to be threaded, I preferably provide a nipple or nozzle f,which in this instance is provided with a reduced end f, which may beslipped within the duct. The tubular guide may be otherwise brought intocommunication with the duct, however.

I preferably lash the tubular guide near its upper end to the jack-bar gby a lashing-line g. The tubular guide, however, may be otherwisesecured in position. The jack-bar is preferably removable from themanhole-cover frame'and is preferably constructed as shown most clearlyin Fig. 2. v I provide inthe frame 0 two diametrically-opposed recessesg g*, which are ada'ptedto receive the ends of the jack-bar. Thejack-bar is preferably made in two sections, which'are united at themiddle by a sleeve 9 provided with rightand left hand threads engagingcorresponding threads respectively upon'the opposing ends of thesections of the bar. By rotating the sleeve in one direction thejack-bar may be shortened and then removed from the frame, while byrotating the sleeve in the opposite direction the bar may be lengthenedafter it has been placed in line with the recesses and thereby securedin position.

In practice I prefer to pass the cable through the tubular guide beforeit is inserted within the manhole, the end of the cable being projectedslightly beyond the nozzle f, so that a rope it may be attached theretoin any wellknown way. I then insert the reduced end of the nozzle withinthe duct, and having imparted the desired curvature to the guide lashthe same to the jack-bar. After the tubular guide has thus been placedthe reel and manhole may be relieved of all attention on the part of theworkman, all of the work being performed at the other end of the rope h.By lashing the guide to the jack-barI am enabled to secure the same inposition and at the same time permit it to change its position sidewise,and thereby keep it in line with the cable as it is uncoiled from thereel. Other means may be provided for permitting this sidewise movementto the tubular guide. The saving that I effect in labor and the rapiditywith which the work is done will be apparent.

It is obvious that changes may be made from the preferred embodiment ofmy invention without departing from its spirit, and I do not thereforedesire to be limited to the precise construction and arrangement ofparts herein shown and described; but,

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In an apparatus for feeding cablesinto underground conduits, the combination with a curved tubular guidethrough which the cable may be passed and adapted for insertion withinthe manhole, of means for bringing an end of said guide intocommunication with a duct communicating with the manhole, through whichduct the cable is to be threaded, and means for securing the curvedtubular guide in position at the manhole-opening, said means permittingthe sidewise movement of the guide by the cable as it is unwound,whereby the guide is maintain ed in alinement with the unwinding cable,substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus for feeding cables into underground conduits, thecombination with a flexible tubular guide for the cable constructed toflex only into comparatively large curves, and adapted for insertionwithin the manhole, of a nozzle provided upon one end of said guide foraffording communication between the tubular guide and the ductcommunicating with the manhole, through which duet the cable is to bethreaded, and means for securing the tubular guide in position at themanhole-opening, said means permitting the sidewise movement of theguide by the cable as it is unwound, whereby the guide is maintained inalinement with the unwinding cable, substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus for feeding cables into underground conduits, thecombination with a flexible tubular guide for the cable constructed toflex only'into comparatively large curves, and adapted for insertionwithin the manhole, of a nozzle provided upon one end of said guide foraifording communication between the tubular guide and the ductcommunieatin g with the manhole, through which duct the cable is to bethreaded, and a jackbar adapted to be secured at the manholeopening tosupport the upper portion of the tubular guide whereby the position ofthe tubular guide is fixed relative to the manholeopening, substantiallyas described.

4. In an apparatus for feeding cables into underground conduits, thecombination with a curved tubular guide for the cable adapted forinsertion within the manhole, of a nozzle provided upon one end of saidguide for affording communication between the tubular guide and the ductcommunicating with the manhole through which duct the cable is to bethreaded, and a jack-bar adapted to be secured at the manhole-opening tosupport the upper portion of the guide, the guide being capable ofmovement sidewise upon the j ackbar whereby it is preserved in alinementwith the cable as it is uncoiled, substantially as described.

5. In an apparatus for feeding cables into underground conduits, thecombination with a curved guide at the manhole for directing the cableinto a duct of the conduit, of means for securing the curved guide inposition at the manhole-opening, said means permitting the sidewisemovement of the guide by the cable as it is unwound, whereby the guideis maintained in alinement with the unwinding cable, substantially asdescribed.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 24th day ofJuly,.A. D. 1897.

WILLBUR H. JOHNSTON.

Witnesses:

W. J. STEVENSON, W. S. Monnrs.

